Nat Turner-Abolitionist Birth: October 2, 1800, South Hampton, Virginia Death: November 11, 1831, Jerusalem, Virginia Know For: Leading a slave rebellion Biography Nat Turner was a slave to the Travis family plantation in Virginia. Turner was lucky to receive an education of reading and writing by his owner. He was also a preacher who claimed to have been chosen by God. He saw an eclipse of the Sun, and interpreted it as God’s way of telling him to lead a rebellion. On August 21, 1831 his rebellion began with the murder of the Travis family. After he and his 75 followers went on to kill 60 whites, mostly women and children. This was the bloodiest rebellion in American history. It ended 48 hours later and Turner went into hiding. He was found on October 30, 1831 and surrendered. He was then hung, flayed, beheaded, and quartered on November 11, 1831. Goals and Criticisms The main goal of Turner was to end slavery by leading a massive slave uprising. Another goal of his was to fulfill what he was told by God. He believed he was to kill the whites, and so he did. A final goal was to show the slave owners the anger of the slaves, and how far they would go to gain their freedom. They also sowed the owners their vulnerability. Criticisms he received were for leading a very violent and bloody rebellion. It resulted in the deaths of many innocent people. Another criticism was the hysteria the South went into. The rebellion caused the tightening of slave codes, and for owners to sleep with pistols under their pillows for protection. Methods to improve American life Te rebellion didn’t improve American life. It caused hysteria and deaths of Americans. Turner wanted to free the slaves, which would of be an improvement if it had been achieved. The methods of murder were quite brutal. The men used axes, hatchets, knives, and blunt objects. They did not use firearms because they would have been too loud and hard to obtain. The majority of the people were hacked to death. For one family, all ten of the kids were beheaded then piled on the front lawn. The men were brutal and told to “kill all the whites”. Successes In a twisted way they were somewhat successful. They killed 60 whites, gained support, freed some salves, and got his message out. However these are not amazing successes. There were also negatives. The rebellion did not free all the slaves, end slavery, and caused hysteria in the South. Intent and practicality of the time period The rebellion was not very practical of the time. Turner should have known that he would be stopped, for the whites were far more powerful then he was. Also violence will not solve the problem , it would just create more problems.
Federal Government The Federal Government could of enacted better slave laws. The laws could regulate the number of slaves a person could own, forms of works, and types of punishment. The biggest thing the government could of done was to abolish slavery. References 1) William Garrison. Garrison was also an abolitionist. He was murdered because of Turner’s Rebellion. Although Garriosn was not directly involved, he was still an abolitionist, and was executed. 2) Any of the 75 men. Turner did not have many, if any direct followers. He had no one as his right hand man, so any of the unnamed men on the rebellion would stand up for him. Works cited "Africans in America/Part 3/Nat Turner's Rebellion." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html>. "Nat Turner Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.biography.com/people/nat-turner-9512211>. "Nat Turner Rebellion." Spartacus Educational. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASturnerR.htm>.
Birth: October 2, 1800, South Hampton, Virginia
Death: November 11, 1831, Jerusalem, Virginia
Know For: Leading a slave rebellion
Biography
Nat Turner was a slave to the Travis family plantation in Virginia. Turner was lucky to receive an education of reading and writing by his owner. He was also a preacher who claimed to have been chosen by God. He saw an eclipse of the Sun, and interpreted it as God’s way of telling him to lead a rebellion. On August 21, 1831 his rebellion began with the murder of the Travis family. After he and his 75 followers went on to kill 60 whites, mostly women and children. This was the bloodiest rebellion in American history. It ended 48 hours later and Turner went into hiding. He was found on October 30, 1831 and surrendered. He was then hung, flayed, beheaded, and quartered on November 11, 1831.
Goals and Criticisms
The main goal of Turner was to end slavery by leading a massive slave uprising. Another goal of his was to fulfill what he was told by God. He believed he was to kill the whites, and so he did. A final goal was to show the slave owners the anger of the slaves, and how far they would go to gain their freedom. They also sowed the owners their vulnerability. Criticisms he received were for leading a very violent and bloody rebellion. It resulted in the deaths of many innocent people. Another criticism was the hysteria the South went into. The rebellion caused the tightening of slave codes, and for owners to sleep with pistols under their pillows for protection.
Methods to improve American life
Te rebellion didn’t improve American life. It caused hysteria and deaths of Americans. Turner wanted to free the slaves, which would of be an improvement if it had been achieved. The methods of murder were quite brutal. The men used axes, hatchets, knives, and blunt objects. They did not use firearms because they would have been too loud and hard to obtain. The majority of the people were hacked to death. For one family, all ten of the kids were beheaded then piled on the front lawn. The men were brutal and told to “kill all the whites”.
Successes
In a twisted way they were somewhat successful. They killed 60 whites, gained support, freed some salves, and got his message out. However these are not amazing successes. There were also negatives. The rebellion did not free all the slaves, end slavery, and caused hysteria in the South.
Intent and practicality of the time period
The rebellion was not very practical of the time. Turner should have known that he would be stopped, for the whites were far more powerful then he was. Also violence will not solve the problem , it would just create more problems.
Federal Government
The Federal Government could of enacted better slave laws. The laws could regulate the number of slaves a person could own, forms of works, and types of punishment. The biggest thing the government could of done was to abolish slavery.
References
1) William Garrison. Garrison was also an abolitionist. He was murdered because of Turner’s Rebellion. Although Garriosn was not directly involved, he was still an abolitionist, and was executed.
2) Any of the 75 men. Turner did not have many, if any direct followers. He had no one as his right hand man, so any of the unnamed men on the rebellion would stand up for him.
Works cited
"Africans in America/Part 3/Nat Turner's Rebellion." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html>.
"Nat Turner Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.biography.com/people/nat-turner-9512211>.
"Nat Turner Rebellion." Spartacus Educational. Web. 05 Oct. 2011. <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASturnerR.htm>.